China News - 4 February 2021
Ofcom revokes CGTN licence to broadcast in the UK. Ofcom has today withdrawn the licence for CGTN to broadcast in the UK, after its investigation concluded that the licence is wrongfully held by Star China Media Limited and could not be transferred to CCP-controlled CGTNC. CGTN was already separately facing a ban over its failure to cover Hong Kong protests with ‘due impartiality’ and its broadcast of forced confessions from British citizens, including Peter Humphrey. Ofcom, The Guardian, 4 February
Xinjiang: US condemns reports of rape in Chinese camps, UK government condemns. The US state department said that it was "deeply disturbed" by the "atrocities". The UK government is currently responding to the UQ raised by Nus Ghani MP asking for a statement on the treatment of Uighur women in Xinjiang detention camps. Minister Nigel Adams has reiterated new forced labour measures, the UK leading UN statements and demand for unfettered access to Xinjiang - but sanctions still 'under review'. The genocide amendment is set to return to the Commons next week. BBC, 4 February
Manchester University cuts ties with CETC firm linked to Uighur surveillance. Manchester University has cancelled an agreement with a Chinese technology company after being warned by the Commons foreign affairs committee that CETC was involved in the mass surveillance of Uighur Muslims. The Times, 4 February
Chinese Premier looks to put ties with UK on ‘firmer footing’. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sought to move relations with the U.K. onto “firmer footing”. “No matter how the regional and international landscape may evolve, China’s commitment to its relations to the U.K. remains as strong as ever.” Bloomberg, 4 February
US admiral warns of higher possibility of nuclear war with Russia or China. “There is a real possibility that a regional crisis with Russia or China could escalate quickly to a conflict involving nuclear weapons, if they perceived a conventional loss would threaten the regime or state.” The Times, 4 February
Hong Kong pro-democracy movement nominated for Nobel peace prize by nine US lawmakers. The Guardian, 4 February
UK, Japan express serious concern over East, South China Seas situation in joint statement from foreign ministers. Reuters, 4 February
Clarity for Beijing and Taipei as Biden team says US will stay with one-China policy. State Department spokesman Ned Price said there was no change in the United States’ one-China policy. SCMP, 3 February
Activists from 180 rights groups in Japan call for boycott of Beijing 2022 Games. Reuters, 4 February
China watch
China administered 31.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for key groups as of February 3. Reuters, 3 February
China says it now has nearly 1 billion internet users. CNBC, 3 February
Economy & tech
UK and EU to open probes into Nvidia’s $40bn acquisition of Arm. The EU and the UK are set to open in-depth competition investigations into Nvidia’s $40bn acquisition of the UK chip designer Arm, after rivals called for the deal to be blocked. The deal threatens to drag the group into the US-China tech war. BBC, 4 February
Chinese IPOs underpriced by up to $200bn due to valuation limits. FT, 4 February
Brits snap up Australian wine that didn't go to China. BBC, 4 February
Longer reads & opinion
Comment: Britain should welcome Hongkongers, but not the 'good migrant' narrative. The “good migrant” narrative coalescing around the Hong Kong Chinese is risky in The Guardian, 4 February
The truth about China’s genocide against the Uyghurs. The Spectator, 4 February
After the Huawei ban, the government needs to guarantee its 5G supply. Greg Clark in The Times, 4 February
China’s post-pandemic future: Wuhan wobbly? Long and detailed essay from Andrew Scobell on elite dissent and the problem of regime succession and perpetuation. War on the Rocks, 3 February